Title: The Best Worship (John 04:20-24)
Content Worship is the most basic act in our religious life. Anyone who believes in God and believes in Christ worships in any way. However, the Bible tells us that not all worship services are “good worship” acceptable to God. Then, what kind of worship is good worship? Let's find out together through the teachings of Jesus in the words of the coming text.
First, good worship is worship offered.
The word ‘worship’ used in the text is ‘proskunes’, which means “to kiss, to kiss your hand, to bow down.” In other words, worship means “a person bowing down before the supreme being with respect and reverence” However, it is a pity that these worship services are reduced to a ‘must-see spectacle’ or a ‘hand rubbing meeting’ to fulfill my wishes. Do you come “to see” worship or “to offer” what do you come “to obtain” or “to offer” (see: Luke 7:36-50)
Second, 'how to give' is more important than 'what to give'.
In the text, the Samaritan woman raises a question about the ‘place of worship’. But the Lord reminds us that it's not about who we worship, how we worship. The place, time, and even form of worship are factors that help us worship. Because true worship is offered in our souls. However, this does not mean that these factors can be ignored. Rather, all of these must be well-chosen and prepared so that our worship can truly “focus on one God” and “dedicate all our devotion to”. (See: Isaiah 1:10-17, the laborious preparations for the sacrifice in Leviticus)
Third, the best worship is to be offered ‘in spirit and in truth’. In other words, it is a worship service that is known and offered with all your heart.
As Jesus pointed out in verse 22, the Samaritan worship was sincere, but the worship service lacked the truth that they did not know.
2) On the other hand, Jewish worship was true worship without spirits.
The Jews clearly knew the object of their worship. Nevertheless, most of their worship was a formal 'duty fulfillment ceremony'.
The best worship service is one that we thoroughly know about the God we worship and offer with all our heart and sincerity, that is, worship in spirit and truth.
Dear Bethel family, Only when we offer ‘the best worship’ can our faith grow, we gain the strength to overcome the world, and we receive God’s blessing. Today, let's check ourselves to see if we're giving the best of our worship.
Did I come to worship today and were full of anticipation? Did I attend the service on time? Did I put all my heart into not wanting to miss a single thing? Did I worship to give rather than receive? And Is my heart happy and peaceful in the fullness of the Holy Spirit?